Santa Clara City Council rejects 49ers’ $3 million peace offering

Left to right, Christina Miller, Santana Checker and Mia Morales protest before a community meeting on Tuesday, April 21, 2015 in Santa Clara, Calif. Soccer fans and community members rallied together to speak their mind about the 49ers potentially turning a community soccer field into a parking lot for the Levi's Stadium. less

Left to right, Christina Miller, Santana Checker and Mia Morales protest before a community meeting on Tuesday, April 21, 2015 in Santa Clara, Calif. Soccer fans and community members rallied together to speak ... more

Photo: James Tensuan, SFC

Photo: James Tensuan, SFC

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Left to right, Christina Miller, Santana Checker and Mia Morales protest before a community meeting on Tuesday, April 21, 2015 in Santa Clara, Calif. Soccer fans and community members rallied together to speak their mind about the 49ers potentially turning a community soccer field into a parking lot for the Levi's Stadium. less

Left to right, Christina Miller, Santana Checker and Mia Morales protest before a community meeting on Tuesday, April 21, 2015 in Santa Clara, Calif. Soccer fans and community members rallied together to speak ... more

Photo: James Tensuan, SFC

Santa Clara City Council rejects 49ers’ $3 million peace offering

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The Santa Clara City Council is saying “no thanks” to the 49ers’ $3 million peace offering in the war over the youth soccer fields adjacent to Levi’s Stadium.

By a 6-1 vote, the council rejected what the team insisted was a no-strings-attached gift for the city’s youth sports programs after several residents and council members said it didn’t look right.

“There were a lot of issues, mainly ethical,” said Councilwoman Lisa Gillmor. “We are in the middle of so-called negotiations with the 49ers trying to acquire the youth soccer fields. Accepting a donation at this time just didn’t fit.”

“Their generous gift of $3 million could have been used for park and recreation needs that would benefit all Santa Clara residents,” Caserta said. “But to reject this unrestricted gift of $3 million to improve athletic fields for all our youth because of some perceived ‘strings being attached’ is deeply troubling to me and the wrong decision.”

The 49ers made the offer after the council had tabled the team’s $15 million proposal to lease the kids’ soccer fields for 40 years. The Niners want to use the fields initially for parking, then develop them for commercial use down the line.

In a May 5 letter to the City Council, team Chief Operating Officer AlGuido said the Niners were still open to a deal, but that in the meantime they were offering $3 million to the city “for the purpose of improving youth athletic facilities in Santa Clara.”

“There is no consideration requested in return,” Guido said.

Once again, public pressure helped persuade the council to push back.

“Early in the evening, it appeared that some council members were willing to take the money,” Gillmor said. “But after the public spoke, there was a change of heart.”

As for the Niners? No one from the team showed up.

“We’re very disappointed that the Santa Clara City Council voted to decline our good-faith offer of $3 million, which was intended to be nothing more than financial support to further sports opportunities for the children and families of our community,” team spokesman Bob Lange said in a statement Thursday. “The 49ers respect our partnership with the city and remain dedicated to our neighbors.”

San Francisco Chronicle columnists Phillip Matier and Andrew Ross appear Sundays, Mondays and Wednesdays. Matier can be seen on the KPIX TV morning and evening news. He can also be heard on KCBS radio Monday through Friday at 7:50 a.m. and 5:50 p.m. Got a tip? Call (415) 777-8815, or e-mail matierandross@sfchronicle.com. Twitter: @matierandross